The supreme discipline of creativity – CYP

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With CYP on your side, you’re ideally prepared for every professional challenge and can therefore be self-determined and successful.

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In the digital society, expertise alone is no longer enough. Today it is a question of creating something new from known information, in other words, of being creative. By creativity we mean the ability to think unconventionally, to come up with new and original ideas that solve problems and are useful. Creativity is an indispensable key competence and stands behind every innovative idea. But how does one become creative?

One of the most important creativity researchers, Mel Rhodes[^1], asked himself as early as the 1960s what factors have a significant influence on our creativity. He proposed four perspectives on creativity that emphasised different aspects:

[^1]: RHODES, Mel. An analysis of creativity. The Phi Delta Kappan, 1961, 42. Jg., Nr. 7, p. 305-310.

**The creative person:** Who is creative? Personal prerequisites and character traits, intellect, temperament, habits and behaviour are taken into account.

**The creative process:** How does creativity come about? The perspective looks at the way in which creative work is created and takes into account motivation, learning and thinking skills, perception, communication.

**The creative product:** When is a product creative? The results of creativity can be visible objects, services or purely intellectual products like ideas.

**The creative environment:** Which environmental factors influence creativity? The environment influences and the relationship between the person and the environment plays an important role.

Creativity is a key to innovation and improvement in companies and supports competitiveness. In our highly dynamic times, the creative environment is particularly important. After all, new ideas cannot be forced at the push of a button, but can only be promoted by creating the right framework conditions. What is important? What does a workplace that stimulates creativity look like? What are important techniques?

Inspiring environments encourage people to think, dream and develop new ideas. Getting new ideas in old structures and rooms is rather difficult. People become creative when they can move around, don't have to sit at a table, have plenty of free space to write and sketch, or make themselves comfortable to read or chat. A creative space is an important starting point for promoting creativity in the company without changing everything at once.
 
More and more companies and universities are setting up creative working and meeting spaces so that the generation of ideas is not left to chance. In creative spaces, methods from Design Thinking are used – an approach that consistently puts people at the centre. Instead of lengthy innovation processes, new ideas are immediately implemented and tested using prototypes – and then improved.

Creativity knows no rules

A creative space is the cradle of good ideas. It often reminds one of a modern workshop. It can be designed flexibly and its furnishings appeal to all the senses. The aim is to develop ideas in the room in a structured way over a longer period of time.

The CYP Innovation Lab in Zurich's Puls 5 thus offers a creative working environment that stimulates a change in thinking and makes it easier to solve problems and develop visions. Thinking, lateral thinking, tinkering, brainstorming and working so that good ideas and future-oriented concepts emerge.

In creative spaces it is important that the interior design is well thought-out and follows a concept that the employees know and understand - only then will creative spaces be used! Motivation increases, meetings are shortened or replaced by more efficient formats and creative thinking leads to surprisingly simple answers to seemingly difficult questions. The advantages of a creative working environment:

* Team spirit and cross-functional thinking and acting are stimulated
* The spatial setting promotes communication, dialogue and exchange and also allows for a brief withdrawal from the group
* Productivity is promoted
* Inspiration is developed
* Silo thinking is dismantled
* Change processes in the company are supported
* The issue of innovation is given the necessary weight
* The creative work environment can be used for various applications, such as workshops with customers or agile meetings
* Design thinking processes are stimulated
* Collaboration and team thinking is stimulated in a sustainable way
* Framework for more openness and transparency is created

Why the investment in space and time pays off

People who think alike usually do not spark much creativity when they work together. It is therefore worthwhile to let as many different people as possible become creative in a group – even if this can be more uncomfortable, it improves the chances of thinking in different directions and creating something new.

Inspiring spaces are one of the most important foundations for creative work and innovation.

**Costs:** When it comes to furnishing, small things can make a big difference. It is often enough to start with a little paint, bar tables, cubes and enough pens.

**Material:** Creative material, also called prototyping material, is important: Wool, Lego, Playmobil, modelling clay, paper in abundance, handicraft materials, Post-it, adhesive tape...

**Encounters:** Open zones, interspaces, niches or coffee corners invite you to take breaks for discussions, which can turn into spontaneous sessions of ideas. The cosy, well stocked coffee corner is a must. If you feel comfortable, you can be creative.

**Concept:** A creative room should have a stimulating effect, stimulate thinking, encourage cooperation and provide space for relaxation and play. In the creative room, joint solutions can be developed along the customer journey. The applied innovation methods such as Service Design Thinking are an integral part of the concept. In this way, new services can be developed and tested in the shortest possible time.

**Needs:** Only the cooperation of many creative minds makes it possible to develop good ideas. Nevertheless, there should also be room for concentrated individual work in a creative space.

Success factors for the creative space

* Sufficient space
* Whiteboards
* Pens
* Large tables and work surfaces
* Trouble-free working areas
* Natural and direct light
* Writable walls and surfaces
* Free choice of workplace
* Workstations for co-creation
* Sources of inspiration such as libraries
* Coffee corners
* Rolling furniture ensures flexibility
* Prototyping material is always at hand
* Room divider
* Results can be left hanging

Ideally, work can be done sitting or standing and the room itself can be easily adapted for group or individual work. In this way, teams can work productively and successfully contribute to the change in corporate culture. The atmosphere and mood of the room are important!

The supreme discipline of creativity

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Creativity knows no rules

Why the investment in space and time pays off

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Success factors for the creative space

Tips and tricks for the creative space

The supreme discipline of creativity

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Creativity knows no rules

Why the investment in space and time pays off

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Success factors for the creative space

Tips and tricks for the creative space

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